Issue - meetings

1. That the delivery of the City Learning Quarter project, in line with the business case and funding strategy, be approved.

2. That funds of up to £4 million be approved to progress the design and fund the continued development of the project, to be repaid once additional grants have been secured.

3. That it be approved for City of Wolverhampton Council to lead on both the City Learning Quarter and Wellington Road BCLEP bids (on behalf of City of Wolverhampton College) to deliver a comprehensive programme.

4. That it be approved that supplementary budgets are established for the Wellington Road project, subject to funding.

Mark Taylor, Deputy Managing Director left the room at this point and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Councillor Harman Banger presented the City Learning Quarter report for approval. It was noted that on 20 September 2017, Council approved the capital budget of £50 million for the City Learning Quarter and approved that authority be delegated to Cabinet to approve final business case and funding strategy. The report provided an update on the City Learning Quarter (CLQ) programme and Cabinet were recommended to approve the final business case and funding strategy.

It was noted that the funding strategy was subject to receiving grants through the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP) and Cabinet were asked to consider approving the ongoing use of Council resources to fund the project until such time as external funding was secured.

It was highlighted that the scheme would generate 248 new job opportunities and safeguard 497 existing jobs within the City.  It was noted that a reduction of 613 tonnes of CO² released into the atmosphere was anticipated, which was a great positive in light of the recent Climate Emergency declaration, as well as the reduction of NOX emissions by over 300 kg per year.

It was also anticipated that the scheme would accommodate a college population of almost 4,000 students. It was agreed that this would provide a revitalisation of the City centre and the importance of the provision of further education within Wolverhampton was strongly underlined.

The scheme and the team of officers involved in the delivery of the scheme were commended.

Resolved:

1. That the delivery of the City Learning Quarter project, in line with the business case and funding strategy, be approved.

2. That funds of up to £4 million be approved to progress the design and fund the continued development of the project, to be repaid once additional grants have been secured.

3. That it be approved for City of Wolverhampton Council to lead on both the City Learning Quarter and Wellington Road BCLEP bids (on behalf of City of Wolverhampton College) to deliver a comprehensive programme.

4. That it be approved that supplementary budgets are established for the Wellington Road project, subject to funding.